X-ray processing hanger



Nov. 27, 1956 H. J. HOOD EIAL 2,771,827

X-RAY PROCESSING HANGER Original Filed Jan. 25. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2PRIOR ART INVENTOQST HE/VEY J; HOOD C/L QL F A/OWAC/d EDMUND M M4/VHOESf/V M/ M ywyr ATTORNEYS PRIOR ART United States Patent X-RAYPROCESSING HANGER Henry J. Hood, Carl F. Nowack, and Edmund M. VanHoesen, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application January 25,1952, Serial No. 268,294. Divided and this application February 2, 1953,Serial No. 334,652

1 Claim. (Cl. 95100) The present invention relates to film hangers, andmore particularly to hangers adapted to support and tension a filmsheet, such as X-ray film, to retain the sheet in a stretched planarrelation. This application is a division of our prior application Ser.No. 268,294, filed January 25, 1952.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved type of film enaging clip for such hangers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a type of clip ofthe class described, which has a pair of overlying film engaging jawswhich are held against movement in opposite directions in the plane ofthe film and normal to the clip supporting member.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a film clipformed with clamping jaws which securely engage the film, yet aresecured and positively retained in slightly spaced relation to provideadequate drainage of the photographic solutions between the jaws.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a pair ofmovable clips with means to position the clips relative to thesupporting hanger as well as the film sheet.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claim at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a film hanger and clip arrangementconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the hangerconstruction illustrated in Fig. l, and taken substantially on line 2-2thereof, showing the means for maintaining the upper fiexibily mountedclips in proper relation to the hanger;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of one form of film clip used prior tothe present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the prior type of clip illustrated inFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation view of the new and improved type of clip ofthe present invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the clip illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the clip illustrated in Figs 5 and 6;

Fig, 8 is a perspective view of the new and improved clip, showing onemanner of connecting the clip to a support, such, for example, as thelower rod of a film hanger of the type illustrated in Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the film engaging jaws ofthe clip taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 5, showing the relationof the film impaling members, and the arrangement for maintaining thefilm clamping jaws in slightly spaced parallel relation.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate thesame parts.

The present invention relates to a film hanger which may be formed froma rod, strip, or other form of material to provide a hollow U-shapedframe having a bottom rod 11 and opposite spaced sides 12. The upperends of the sides 12 are bent inwardly towards each other, as shown at13, and are secured to a top member which, in the present embodiment, isin the form of a channel member 14. The top member 14, as in commonpractice, is provided with laterally extending portions 15 which projectbeyond sides 12 to support the hanger, in a suspended relation, on thetop of a suitable processing tank, as is well known.

As the hanger so far described may be of any standard construction, andforms no part of the present invention, further details are not deemednecessary. Also, the showing and description of this particular form ofhanger is not deemed as a limitation, but only as an illustration of onetype of hanger with which the clip structure of the present inventionmay be used. Therefore, the details of the hanger itself may be variedwidely without in any way altering the structure of the presentinvention.

The hanger above described and illustrated in Fig. l is primarily usedto support and tension a sheet of film. The term film as used in thepresent specification and claim is employed in its generic sense tocover the usual cut sheet film, sheet X-ray film, paper sheets or anyother type of sheet material which is to be held in a tensioned planarrelation. With such hangers, it is common practice to provide the hangerwith suitable clips positioned to engage the sheet adjacent its fourcorners to secure the sheet in place on the hanger. In some types ofhangers the lower clips are mounted on and connected directly to thebottom of the member 11. However, in order to stretch or tension thefilm sheet the top clips may be yieldably mounted so as to cooperatewith the lower clips to stretch or tension the sheet therebetween, aslater described. I

Various types of film engaging clips have been used with such hangers.One such form of clip is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This clip is formedfrom a single strip of spring metal which is bent on itself, as shown inFig. 4, to provide a pair of spaced parallel members 16 which areconnected at one end by a curved resilient portion 17. The other ends ofthe members 16 are formed to provide neck portions 18 which have a widthless than that of the member 16, as best shown in Fig. 3. These neckportions are arranged in a crossover relation and terminate in fiat,elongated film gripping members or jaws 19 which are adapted to receiveand clamp a corner of the film sheet 20. It will be observed from Fig. 4that due to the crossover relation of the neck portions 18, the left jawmember 19 is connected to the right member 16, while the right hand jawmember is connected to the left member 16, all of which is well known inthe art. The upper member 16, Fig. 3, which is the right hand member 16,Fig. 4, is provided with a laterally projecting curved lug 21 forconnecting the clip to the hanger or bottom 11 thereof.

With this type of prior clip, the right hand member 16, Fig. 4, or thebottom member, Fig. 3, is stationary. On the other hand, the left member16, Fig. 4, or the upper member 16, Fig. 3, is movable. The result isthat when the two members 16 are gripped and pressed towards each other,the movable member 16 will move towards and relative to the stationarymember 16 and against the spring action of the curved portion 17 toseparate the jaws 19. When, however, the pressure is released, thetensioned member 17 serves to move the member 16 apart to bring the jaws19 into closed relation, as shown in Fig. 4.

It has been common practice with clips of the type shown in Figs. 3 and4, to provide one of the jaws with a film impaling member in the form ofa pin 22, which will pierce the film sheet. The other jaw 19 usually isformed with an aperture or recess 23 in alignment with and adapted toreceive the free end of the pin 22, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Usuallythe pin is on the stationary member while the recess is on a movablemember. It is obvious, however, that this arrangement may be reversed.In addition, the stationary member 16 is formed with 21 depending lug 24the free end 25 of which is adapted to engage the inner surface 26 ofthe movable member when the members are pressed together to limit theopening movement of the jaws 19, all of which is deemed apparent tothose familiar with such clip structures.

With the above-described structure of the clips illustrated in Figs. 3and 4, in mind, attention is called specifically to the structureillustrated in Fig. 3. In this figure the movable member 16 lies abovethe fixed member 16, and the neck 18 of the movable member crosses overthe neck 18 of the stationary member so that the jaw 19 connected to themovable member underlies the jaw 19 connected to the fixed member. Also,the neck 18 of the movable member lies to the left of the neck 13 of thefixed member. In other words, the neck of the movable member is betweenthe film sheet 20 and the neck of the stationary member. Now, with suchan arrangement, when any pressure or force is applied to the movablemember or jaw in the direction X, Fig. 3, will tend and may actuallymove the movable member and its associated jaw to the dotted position,Fig. 3. Such moving force may result, for example, from a pull on thefilm, catching the hanger on an adjacent hanger or on the edge of theprocessing tank. Such movement of the movable member jaw relative to thestationary jaw will move the hole or recess 23 out of registeringrelation with the impaling pin 22. Such out-of-registry relation willrender the jaw structure less operative in securing the corner of thefilm strip in clamped relation between the jaw members, the disadvantageof which is apparent to those in the art.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it is apparent that when jaws 19' are in theirclosed or film gripping relation, the inner surfaces of the jaws are incontact with the opposite faces of the film over the entire area of thejaws. The result is that there is no proper access of processing liquidto the film area between the jaws. Also, adequate drainage is notprovided at this point, the disadvantages of which are deemed apparent.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present invention providesa new and improved form of film clip, generally indicated by the numeral29 and illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 inclusive. Like the clipillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the new clip of the present invention isformed from a strip of spring metal and is bent upon itself to provide apair of spaced parallel members 39 and 31 which are connected at one endby a resiliently curved member 32. The member 30 is formed with alaterally extending curved lug 42, to be later more fully described,which may be secured in any suitable manner to a support such, forexample, as the bottom rod 11 of the hanger illustrated in Fig. 1.Therefore, as the member 30 is secured to the rod 11, it is designatedas the stationary or fixed member. On the other hand, the member 31 isnot so restrained and may be designated as the movable member. hemembers 30 and 31, like the structure illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, areprovided with neck portions 33 and 34, respectively, of reduced widthand arranged in a crossover relation. These crossed neck portionsterminate in flat film engaging jaws 35 and 36. The result is that, asillustrated in Fig. 8, the jaw 36 of the upper movable member 31 ispositioned beneath the jaw 35 of the lower stationary member 3%. Also,referring to Fig. 8, it is apparent that the neck 34 of the movablemember 31 is positioned to the right of neck 33 of the stationary member30. This arrangement is just the reverse of that of the prior clipstructure illustrated in Figs; 3 and 4. The result is that when a forceis applied in the direction X, Fig. 8, this force will tend to move themovable member 31 and its associated jaw 36 to the left relative to thefixed jaw 35'. However, any such tendency to so move the parts willcause the left edge 37 of the neck 34 at the point of crossover of theneck portions to engage the right edge 38 of the stationary neck portion33. Such engagement will effectively arrest any movement of the neck 34and jaw 36 to the left relative to the fixed jaw 35. The resuit is thatthe relative position of the jaw members 35 and 36 is always maintainedso that the impaling pin and its cooperating recess or aperture, to belater more fully described, will never be moved out of registeringrelation; but, on the contrary, will always be in proper cooperatingrelation securely to engage and clamp the clip to the film.

In order to limit the opening movement of jaws 3S and 36, the movablemember 31 is formed with a depending lug 39 of the shape best shown inFig. 8. When the movable member 31 is pressed toward the member 30 thejaws 35 and 36 are separated or opened. This opening movement may becontinued until the lower tapered edge 40 of the lug 39 finally engagesthe upper or inner surface 41 of the stationary member 30 to thus arrestfurther movement of the members 30 and 31 and to limit the openingmovement of the jaws 35 and 36, as is deemed apparent from an inspectionof Fig. 8. The lug 39 is positioned on the right side or edge of themovable member 31, see Fig. 8, and adjacent the curved lug 42 which isformed from the material of the member 30 to connect the latter to itssupport, such as the rod 11. In order to secure positive engagement ofthe lug 39 with the lug 42 in all positions of the member 36, for areason to be presently described, the curvature or shape of the lug 42along its length may be varied. For example, at point 43, the lug 42 mayhave a radius of curvature equal to or substantially equal to the radiusof rod 11. However, at the opposite end 44, the lug 42 is of angularshape so that the lug 42 may project slightly above the rod 11 and inthe path of lug 39 in all positions of the latter as is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 8.

From an inspection of Fig. 8, it is now apparent that if force isapplied to the jaw 36 in the direction of Y, this force will tend tomove jaw 36, member 31 and lug 39 to the right, as viewed in thisfigure. Such movement will bring the lug 39 into direct and positiveengagement with the lug 42 or at least the elevated portion 44 thereofto prevent or limit such rightward movement of the jaw 36. The parts areso designed that engagement of the lugs 39 and 42 will occur before jaw36 has been moved far enough to shift the impaling pin and its recessout of registering relation. Thus, the engagement of the edges .37 and38 of the neck portions 33 asd 34, will prevent relative movement of thejaws 35 and 36 in the direction x or upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1. Onthe other hand, engagement of lugs 39 and 42 will prevent relativemovement of the jaws 35 and 36 in the opposite direction or downward, asviewed in Fig. 1. Therefore, by the use of this blocking or stop means,the jaws are held against relative movement in opposite directions andare maintained in proper film clamping relation. This limitation ofmovement is in the plane of the film and normal to the lower supportingrod 11 or to the upper supporting member to be later described. Also,the lug 39 performs two functions: (1) it limits the opening movement ofthe jaws 35 and 36; and (2) it prevents or limits rightward movement ofthe jaw 36 relative to the jaw 35, all of which is deemed apparent froman inspection of Fig. 8.

Referring again to Figs. 3 and 4, it is apparent that the jaw members 19engage the film sheet over the flat area of the jaws. As mentionedabove, such form of clamping prevents or reduces proper application ofthe processing solution to such area and materially reduces properdrainage of the solution therefrom. In order to overcome theseundesirable features, the jaws 35 and 36 of the clip of the presentinvention are so designed as to engage the film sheet over a minimumarea.

Referring now to Fig. 9, it is seen that the impaling pin 50 is securedto the movable jaw 36 and is formed with a circular boss 51 which liesagainst the inner face 52 of the jaw 36 and serves to support the filmsheet over only a small area and in spaced relation from said face 52.Also, the boss 51 cooperates with a flange, to be later described, tospace the film sheet from the inner face 53 of the jaw 35. Thus, thefilm is suspended between the inner jaw surfaces. The jaw 35 is formedwith a circular aperture 54 in registry with and through which theimpaling pin 59 projects. The edge of the aperture 54 is turned inwardto form an annular flange 55 the periphery 56 of which engages the filmsheet 20 substantially along an annular line only, and cooperates withthe boss 51 to hold th film sheet in spaced relation between the jawsand over a minimum area of contact, all as most clearly illustrated inFig. 9. Also, the cooperating boss 51 and flange 55 serve to maintainthe jaws 35 and 36 in slightly spaced parallel relation to permit freepassage and drainage of the processing liquid between the jaws, so as toinsure proper and adequate processing of this area of the film.Furthermore, to insure the proper spaced parallel relation of jaws 36and 35, th latter has formed on its upper edge 57 an inwardly bent lug58 which projects toward and is adapted to engage the inner face 52 ofjaw 36 when the jaws are in closed or film clamping position, as shownin Fig. 9. Thus, lug 58 cooperates with boss 51 and flange 55 tomaintain the jaws 35 and 36 in a slightly spaced parallel relation, andalso to provide the minimum engagement of the film sheet by the aws.

As is common practice, the lower clips 29 may be secured in a fixedposition on the lower rod 11 of the hanger, as illustrated in Fig. 1.However, it is also common practice to impart a slight tension to thefilm sheet to stretch the latter to hold it in a taut, planar relationon the hanger. In order to secure such tension, the upper pair of clipsmay be yieldably or flexibly mounted so that they may be moved relativeto the lower clips to stretch the film therebetween, as is commonpractice. To this end, the top member 14 has secured thereto a pair ofcantilever members 59 formed of a flexible or resilient material andcarrying on their free ends clips 29, which are identical in structureto those above described and secured to the lower rod 11. In practice,the lower corners of the film sheet are secured to the lower fixed clips29. The upper clips are then grasped and pulled down to connect theupper film clips to the sheet. Such pulling down flexes or tensions thecantilever members 59. The result is that upon release of the members59, the upper clips tend to move upward and relative to the lower clipsso as to cooperat therewith to pull or tension the fihn striptherebetween to maintain the film in a flat position on the hanger.While only the upper clips are mounted on the resilient cantilevermembers 59, the lower clips may also be so mounted, if desired. Inaddition, the upper film clips are mounted on the cantilever members 59in the same relation as the lower clips so that the cooperating neckportions and the lugs 39 and 42 will prevent movement of the movable jaw35 in an up or down direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, so as to maintainthe jaw members in cooperating relation, as more fully described inconnection with the lower clip members.

While the flexible mounting of the upper clips serves to tension orstretch the film, such mounting has certain inherent disadvantages. Inthe first place, one or both of the members 59 may be bent in adirection out of the plane of the drawings so that the upper clips maybe positioned out of the plane of the hanger proper. Such misalignedclips may readily catch on adjacent hangers or the clips securedthereto. Second, if too small a film sheet is placed in the hanger, theupper film clip may be pulled down to such an extent as to bend themember 6 59 beyond its elastic limit. When this is done, the member 59will no longer be effective to move the upper clip upward to tension thefilm, the disadvantages of which are deemed apparent.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present invention providespositioning and limiting means for the upper cantilever members 59, andtheir associated clips 29. To this end, the top channel member 14 hassecured thereto a pair of laterally spaced depending rods 60, as bestshown in Fig. l. The lower end of each of these rods 6t) is bent to forma loop 61, as best shown in Fig. 2, through which the resilient member59 extends or projects loosely. Now, any attempt to move the member 59or its clip out of the plane of the hanger will serve to bring themember 59 into positive engagement with a side 62 of the loop 61 toprevent such movement. The particular side 62 engaged by the member 59will depend, of course, on the direction of movement. Also, when theupper clips pull down to engage an upper corner of the film, the bottom63 of loop 61 will be engaged by the member 59 to limit the downwardmovement of the latter. The bottom 63 is so positioned that the member59 will engage the bottom 63 before the member 59 has been bent beyondits elastic limit. Of course, the top of the loop will serve to limitthe upward movement of the cantilever member 59. The result is that themember 59 will always retain its resiliency and will be efiective tostretch or tension the film. Thus, the loop 61 serves not only tomaintain the lateral alignment of the members 59 and associated clips,but also prevents excess bending of the members 59 so that the latterwill retain their resilient character and thus be efiective to providethe desired film stretching.

Thus, the present invention provides a new and improved film clip whichinsures proper positioning of the film gripping members, engages thefilm over a minimum area, properly spaces the gripping jaws to insureproper distribution and drainage of the processing liquids. Also, theupper clips are retained in proper positive relation to the hanger sothat the clips are yieldably supported so as to cooperate with the lowerfixed clips to tension or stretch the film.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number ofways, therefore, this application is not to be limited to the precisedetails described but is intended to cover all variations andmodifications which fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

A sheet film hanger comprising, in combination, a hollow rectangularlira-me, a pair of film clips fixedly secured to one side of said frameto engage adjacent corners of a film sheet, a pair of resilientcantilever members secured to the opposite side of said frame, filmclips mounted directly on the free ends of said members to engage anopposite pair of corners of said sheet and to cooperate with said firstpair of clips to maintain said sheet in a 'tensioned planar relation onsaid hanger, means fixedly positioned on said hanger and cooperatingwith said cantilever members to maintain the clips thereon in the planeof said sheet, but permitting limited movement of said member relativeto said means in the plane of said sheet, and means on said lastmentioned means adapted to be engaged by said cantilever members tolimit the movement of the clips thereon in opposite directions in theplane of said sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,237,562 Schoenberg Aug. '21, 1917 1,563,858 'lugve Dec. 1, 19252,352,601 Burke July 4, 1944 2,410,131 Sardeson et al Oct. 29, 19462,450,178 Albert Sept. 28, 1948

